Do you inspect your roof regularly?

If you look at your roof line occasionally, change this habit now. Because you are ignoring the major aspects to find damages on the roof. Regular inspection helps you to avoid costly repairs and prevents raindrops to fall over your head. Another advantage is, it keeps your roof in a good condition if you plan to sell the house.

Let's start it from top.
What do you look for while inspecting your roof? The NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) recommends inspecting the roof at least two times a year. It should be once in the spring and again in monsoon. You should start from right inside your house. Grab a torch and make a trip towards the attic.

Four things to look inside the house :
1. Spots where the roof-deck is staging.
2. Marks of water leaking.
3. Dark signs and trails.
4. Outwards light visible through the roof.

Exterior Inspection :
     1. While checking exterior pay attention to missing shingles, damaged flashing, curling, buckling, blistering, rotting & algae growth (occurs due to humid climate and looks like dark-greenish stains).
     2. Home Team inspectors offer good tips to check the roof from outside.
     3. Visible inspection for torn, cracked, bald/missing shingles on a roof.
     4. Scan your roof for loose material, wear around chimneys, pipes or other penetrations and vents.
      5. Check for excessive quantity of shingle granules (it looks like huge grains of sand) in the gutters. It is a sign of advanced wear.
      6. Watch out signs of moisture, rot or molds. Wet spots do not directly damage your roof but faulty shingle. Water travels down to the lowest spot before it drips. Fungi, mold and bacteria can grow very quickly even in 24 - 48 hours.
      7. Scrutinize the drainage, be sure about gutters & downspout are properly attached. Confirm all drains are open & allow water to escape. In addition, ensure all gutters and downspout are debris free.
     8. Be sure all kitchen, bath and dryer vents go entirely out of your house, does not just store in the attic space.

What's the roof material ?
Tiles :  You must look for broken/cracked tiles. However, you don't walk on the roof to do so. That will break the tiles. Roof tiles can last up to 100 years, but single tiles can break very often. Those tiles are replaceable, but only by a professional (roofing contractor).
Cedar:  A cedar roof needs repair or replacement in dry climates. It will split and fall apart in dry summer days. In moist weather, it can get mossy. The lifespan of a cedar roof is almost 20 years.
Concrete: It should never need replacement.
If your roof is with wooden shakes, you should watch out for damage from carpenter, ants, termites or other wood-boring pests.